South Africa: Churches bar gay marriages
May 17 2007
By Leila Samodien

Six months after gay marriages were legalised, at least four leading denominations are refusing to conduct same-sex unions.

The national leadership of the Anglican Church, as well as the provincial offices of the Catholic Church, Baptist Church and Presbyterian Church, all confirmed their clergy were not allowed to officiate at or bless gay marriages.

The Methodist Church - which has been embroiled in a row with 19 of its ministers over whether to conduct civil unions - has implemented an interim policy that prohibits gay marriages in its churches.

According to the Civil Union Act, if a religious institution does not wish to conduct civil unions, it must submit a letter to Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula explaining why.

The department of home affairs recently told the Cape Argus that six Christian denominations had submitted letters, but department spokesperson Mantshele Tau could not provide updated figures on Thursday. the rest